Citalopram and the risk of cardiac arrhythmia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning against using large doses of the antidepressant citalopram. The FDA has reviewed data which shows that doses of citalopram of 60 mg a day may be linked with changes in the heart rate (QT interval prolongation).

The approved product information in Denmark currently recommends a maximum daily dose of 60 mg for adults and 40 mg for people over 65 years of age.

The changed recommendation from the FDA will be discussed by the European Pharmacovigilance Working Party next week. The Danish Medicines Agency awaits the outcome of this discussion.

You can read the FDA warning via the link in the box to the right.